ASU officers study UK airport policing
Three officers of the Airport Security Unit (ASU), led by Chief Inspector Douglas Ross, have paid a duty visit to the Metropolitan Police Service and the Sussex Police in the UK to study the challenges of policing Heathrow Airport and London Gatwick Airport as well as the emerging trends in aviation.
The Metropolitan Police Service's Operational Command Unit (OCU) known as Aviation Security (SO 18) polices Heathrow Airport. The role of SO 18 is to keep Heathrow Airport safe for the public, staff and visitors. The majority of SO 18 officers are armed and there are dedicated teams of Armed Response Vehicles, which play a role similar to that of ASU.
During their visit, the ASU officers were briefed on a wide range of issues, including the challenges of addressing the threat of terrorism, planning and preparation for the London Olympics 2012, as well as equipment, firearms tactics and training.
The ASU delegation also spent a day visiting the Sussex Police, which are responsible for the security of London Gatwick Airport, and attending presentations on contingency planning, response to security incidents and aircraft accidents, community policing, intelligence gathering, and major event policing. They also toured the police facilities and studied operations of the anti-terrorist checkpoint in the terminal.
The study visit gave the ASU officers a better understanding of the issues and concerns facing two of the busiest international airports in the world. Both Heathrow and Gatwick airports might mirror the increasing challenges the Hong Kong International Airport would face as a result of development and expansion to meet an increasing number of air travellers. The visit also offered the officers an opportunity to share the good practices in aviation policing.
Inspector
William Poon discusses operational deployments with officers at Gatwick
Airport